Pump



J. B. KIRBY.

, PUMP. 7

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, I919- 1,347,5 1 2. Patented uly 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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l. B. KIRBY.

PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR 10, 1919. 1,347,512

Patented July 27, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. B. KIRBY.

PUMP.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1919.

1,347, 5 1 2, Patented July 27, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

UNITED STATES JAMES B. KIRBY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 10, 1919. Serial No. 289,044.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahoga and State of (lhio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pumps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rotary pumps or blowers and has for its object to provide an improved pump or blower of the type employing a pair of rotary disks or thelr equivalent, turning upon axes at an angle to each other, so that the disks approach each other at one side as they rotate, and recede from each other at the opposite side, whereby air or other fluid is drawn into the space between the disks as they recede, and forced out. as they approach each other, the disks being inclosed in an angular casing of sultable shape to accommodate the movement. T o assist the forcing action of the disks I employ a number of blades extending at an angle across the space between the disks. These blades are flexible, or at least are flexibly connected to the respective disks, so that as the disks approach and recede the blades will be flattened or folded therebetween. They assist in entraining the air and also in discharging the same during the rotation of the disks. Means are also provided for taking up any looseness of the blades incident to the movement of the faces of the disks toward and from each other.

One embodiment of the invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a central vertical section of the pump. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the impeller. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the blades. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the connection of a blade to one of the disks. Fig. 6 is a central longi tudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7. Figs. 7 and 8 are end and side elevations of the casing; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modification and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the blades shown therein.

The disks may both be conical, or one may be conical and the other plane, at their adjacent surfaces. The former type is illus. trated. 6 indicates a disk, rather heavy or thick in cross section, and 7 the other disk, lighter and thinner, the latter being strengthened by the radial ribs 8. The former is mounted at the end of the shaft 9, and the latter at the end of the shaft 10, the latter, in the form shown, being the shaft to which power is applied, as by pulley 11. These shafts are arranged with their axes at an angle to each other corresponding to the angularity of the conical faces of the disks, whereby at one radial line the disks will be in contact, or rather in contact or close approach with the opposite sides of the flexible blade located therebetween. A ball 13 or equivalent may be located between adjacent ends of the shafts, to prevent leakage of air at the center and space the disks apart.

These disks are inclosed in a casing, consisting of two cupped or flanged ends 14 and 15, the former of which has an inlet 16 at one side, and an outlet 17 at the opposite side, the casing sections when joined face to face producing a chamber approximating a spherical wedge in section, corresponding to the angularity of the disks.

The disks are connected by a plurality of spaced blades or septums 18, segmental in plan, and made of leather or other suitable flexible material, and of substantially the same. radius as that of the disks. 1 have shown four blades, but the number may be varied. Each blade is fastened along one radial edge to one of the disks 7 as shown, as by rivets 19. At its other radial edge each segment of the blade is curved or hooked around a rod 20, such rods being set in radial grooves 21 in the face of the heavy disk 6. The edges of the blade segments are secured as by screws 22 through holes 23, in the edge of the blade, which screws also hold the rods 20 in place. As the blades open and close during the rotation of the disks their hooked portions draw toward or from these rods, thereby accommodating the variation in the effective length of the blades incident to the variation in distance between the faces of the disks at different radial lines thereof, and avoiding any tendency to break the leather by too abrupt bending. The power applied to the shaft 10 is transmitted to the disk 7 and from it to the disk 6, through the connecting blades 18, whereby one disk drives the other. Either may be the driver but the direction of the rotation must be such as to impose a tension upon the blades rather than a compression. Driving is always effected by that blade which Patented July 27, 1920.

momentarily stands at the greatest angle and hence is carrying the maximum air load, so that its tension prevents any material bulging or retardation by the air. The' and the blades are made of a single piece of flexible material such as leather slit into segments but without complete severance, the leather itself forming a seal at the center.

In operation, by rotation of the disks the air is drawn in at one side, as the disks recede from each other and is forced out at the opposite side, as the disks approach. The blades open and close from and toward the adjacent faces of the disks, and assist in preventing any leakage between the disks, as well as transmitting the driving power from one disk to the other. The pump is particularly effective at high speeds, and the absence of intergeared parts gives a Silent operation and little wear, as well as being unaffected by dusty or gritty air, and requires lubrication only at the shaft bearings. The pump is capable of various modifications within the scope of the invention, and no limitation in this respect is implied from the particular structure shown.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a pair of rotary disks in said casing, arranged at an angle to each other, flexible blades extending between'the disks and connected to the same respectively and adapted to open and close as the disks are rotated, and means to rotate the disks, the connection between the blades and at least one margin of each of the disks including means to permit variation in the effective length of the blades.

2. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet and. an outlet, a pair of rotary disks in said casing, arranged at an angle to each other, flexible blades extending between the disks and connected to the same respectively and adapted to open and close as the disks are rotated, and means to rotate the disks, the connection between one of the disks and the blades including grooves in the disk into which the edges of the blades are folded and means to fasten said edges in the grooves.

3. A pump comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a pair of rotary disks in said casing, arranged at an angle to each other, one of said disks having radial grooves in its face, rods in said grooves, flexible blades extending between the disks and fastened at opposite edges thereto, said blades being curved around said rods respectively, and means to rotate the disks.

4:. A pump comprising a pair of shafts journaled at an oblique angle to each other, disks carried by the adjacent ends of said shafts, one at least of said disks being conical and approaching the other disk along a radial line, one of said disks also having in its face a plurality of radial slots, radial rods secured in said slots, and a plurality of segmental blades of flexible material located between said disks, one of the ra' dial margins of each bladesegment being wrapped around one of said rods, and the other radial margin being secured to the face of the opposite disk.

5. A pump comprising a pair of shafts journaled at an oblique angle to each other, disks carried by the adjacent ends of said shafts, one at least of said disks being conical and approaching the other disk along a radial line, one of said disks also having in its face a plurality of radial slots, round radial rods secured in said slots, and a plurality of segmental blades of flexible material located between said disks, one of the radial margins of each blade segment being bent around one of said rods and secured in the base of the groove, and the other radial margin being secured to the face of the opposite disk.

6. In a pump, a pair of conical disks arranged with their axes oblique to each other and their faces approaching closely together along a radial line, one of said disks having in its face a plurality of radial grooves, a radial rod. in each groove, and a plurality of segmental blades of flexible material, each having one of its radial margins wrapped around one of said rods and secured in said groove, the other margin of each blade being secured to the face of the opposite disk, each of said grooves having a width greater than the combined thickness of the blade and rod.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

' JAMES B. 'KIRBY. 

